Happy birthday you old dog

I know it isn't particularly respectful calling my Dad an old dog, but I don't think he'll mind (and it is pretty fitting) so I made this card for Dad's upcoming birthday. The inside sentiment reads "Happy birthday, you old dog".

The image is "Best seat in the house" from Just Inklined. I had such fun colouring this image, especially getting the colour of the chair just right. Now my Mom would never have allowed a chair that looked this rough sit in the house but if it was up to my Dad this type of chair would definitely have been in a place of honour, not to mention the old smelly dog. I used a mix of Basic Grey papers and cardstock stickers from the Pyrus collection. I love the eyelets on either side of the card - I punched holes through the one paper layer and then inserted copper eyelets so that the cream background paper would show through. I still think this card is too plain but Dad likes simple so I held back on embellishing further. The great benefit of making cards is that each card can be taylored to match the recipient's likes/dislikes.

That's it for today. Hope you are having a great one!

Challenges:
Fab 'n Funky - anything goes
Stampin' Royalty - birthday
Crafty Emma - anything goes
Paper Sundaes - use something new (the Basic Grey paper/embellies)
Creative Inspirations - use something new
Top Tip Tuesday - metal (the brads)
Sketch and Stash - sketch (my forgotten stash are the eyelets)

And now for something completely different

Usually my cards tend toward the sweet and cute but every once in awhile I need to do something just a bit startling. I think you'll all agree that this card is definitely "startling".

The image is from Just Inklined and I just couldn't pass it up when I first saw it. It is quite horrendous, huh? Like something out of a bad nightmare. This isn't the "best" card I've ever made from a technical or artistic perspective but I still decided that it had to be shared just to give everyone a laugh.

I chose a very traditional Santa paper to contrast with the non-traditional image. The sentiment inside the card reads "Come on Santa ... jingle these bells". This is, of course, referring to the bells that are hanging from the ribbon ... I'm sure that's what you were thinking too (LOL).

Challenges:

Truly Scrumptious - sketch

My Time to Craft - Santa Baby

Stamping Vacation - inspired by the song "Jingle Bells"

Christmas Cards All Year Round - featuring Santa

Alphabet Challenge - "H" is for hats

Visions of sugar plumps

I've been waiting to share this card - the image is just so amusing - but had to wait until my BFF received it. Couldn't have her see it on my blog first!

The image is from Just Inklined - if you haven't checked them out, then you are really missing out. They have funny images like this one as well as more traditional images of birds, sceneries, etc.

In making this card, I used all Basic Grey patterned papers. Every layer is popped up although you can't tell in the photo.

Challenges:

I used non-traditional colours for Corrosive Challenge
Christmas card - Critter Sketch, Paper Playtime, Stampin' for the Weekend
This card was created for someone very special (my BFF Jacqui) - Totally Gorjuss
I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday

Christmas Robins

Today's Christmas card was created using a digi image from Just Inklined. This company has the greatest mix of images - both traditional (like these robins) and humourous. And they offer freebies on a regular basis so there are lots of opportunities to try thier images for free.

For these cards I coloured the images using Copic markers and then added some Glossy Accents to the berries. I used a gel pen to dot the eyes so that they have a bit of shine too. I also tried adding a soft blue mist around the image to give the impression of a wintery blue sky - I'm not sure how I feel about the result but it's a new technique for me so I'll just have to keep practicing at it.

The die used is a new Spellbinders that I've been longing for ever since it first came out. I kept talking myself out of it so I was absolutely thrilled when my BFF Jacqui gave it to me for my last birthday. The top card is for an elderly relative and I wanted to make it very special which is why I used pearls around the frame rather than embossing it. The bottom card is cut & then embossed which makes for a simpler, yet still lovely frame. The patterned paper (above) is Basic Grey while the bottom is scraps from the paper bin.

I'll have a set of gift tags to show you later - they are made using reclaimed packaging!

Challenges:

Lil Red Wagon - use a die cut

Top Tip Tuesday - use ribbon

Stamp Something - something digital (the image)

Creative Inspirations - anything goes Christmas

The Crafty Pad - embossing

Stamps R Us - anything goes